(COLORADO SPRINGS)— The City of Colorado Springs announced that there will be some big changes to two blocks of Tejon Street starting on March 24th.

Tejon St. from Colorado Avenue to Kiowa Street will be turned into a more pedestrian-friendly corridor, with the help of a $1.6 million dollar grant from the Department of Transportation.

The changes will include:

Wider sidewalks to accommodate handicapped pedestrians and strollers

Short-term parking and delivery zones

Revamped, art, lighting, and seating

Extended patio seating at restaurants

Chelsea Gondeck, the Planning & Mobility Director for the Downt partnership commented on these changes saying, “Expanded patio dining and its cohesive streets streetscape design with beautiful live [plants] will continue to draw in more and more visitors to support our locally owned businesses. “

The city will make room for the new changes by eliminating the median and making those two blocks of Tejon Street a one-way.

Local Business representatives also spoke at a city meeting on Feb. 19 about the changes.

“For the businesses that are worried, I get it.” Eric Brenner, the Chef at Red Gravy said, “I am as well, you know, but we don’t know what we don’t know. We can only adapt, improvise, make sure that we’re doing new things to make sure that we survive.”

Brenner also commented that his wife who uses a wheelchair, and being able to have wider sidewalks for those who are handicapped is a critical part of the renovations.

The construction is planned to be finished by December.